This tour will be offered from 10:00 – 11:00 AM and 6:00 – 7:00 PM.

French immigrant Stephen Girard settled in Philadelphia in 1776, but he would not cross paths with his famous countryman the Marquis de Lafayette until Lafayette’s triumphant 1824 American tour. By then Girard was America’s richest citizen and one of Philadelphia’s best-known public figures, as well as being both a Frenchman and a Mason, so he was one of the Philadelphians tasked with preparing for Lafayette’s visit. He would then be tapped to help lead the project Lafayette charged the city with carrying out–creating a monument to George Washington.

On this special tour, visitors will get to see seldom-displayed material including invitations and a rare silk rosette from the Philadelphia celebrations of 1824, correspondence about Lafayette’s visit to Napoleon’s brother (and Girard’s friend) Joseph Bonaparte in New Jersey, and business correspondence with Lafayette himself. We will also zoom out to discuss the role of the French community in early national Philadelphia and the later commemoration of Lafayette at Girard College.

Founders Hall at Girard College

2101 South College Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19121

For more info or to buy tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-french-connection-lafayette-and-girard-tickets-945746843267